Southernmost Dat Mui targets national tourist attraction

Authorities of the southernmost province of Ca Mau have set to turn Dat Mui commune, also known as the Cape of Ca Mau, into a national tourism destination by early 2015.

To realise the plan, from now through 2015, they will inject 1 trillion VND in upgrading infrastructure, prioritising the road linking Nam Can district and Dat Mui commune in Ngoc Hien district, according to Duong Huynh Khai, Director of the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

The road is the last section of National Highway 1A running from the northern mountainous province of Lang Son to Ca Mau, Khai added.

The official said over 20 hotels, restaurants and entertainment areas that meet national standards will also be built in the commune under the plan.

For the moment, construction of a bridge spanning over the Nam Can river to Dat Mui is underway to make it easier for visitors to reach the destination. The bridge is scheduled for completion at the end of 2014.

As the southernmost end of Vietnam’s land, Dat Mui, about 100 km away from the centre of Ca Mau City , is the only place in Vietnam where visitors can see the sun rising in the East and setting in the West.

Discovered at the end of the 17th century, Dat Mui is home to mangrove forests featuring a plethora of birds, wild animals and fish as well as other untouched landscapes.-

Japanese tour offered at Temple of Literature

A Japanese tour of Van Mieu (Temple of Literature) – a symbol of Ha Noi's culture and history – will be held by the Friends of Viet Nam Heritage (FVH) next Monday.

Dedicated to Confucius, sages and scholars, the temple was also the site of Quoc Tu Giam (Imperial Academy) – Viet Nam's first university – from 1076 to 1779.

Starting at 9.30am, the tour will help visitors to learn about Confucius and Confucianism, as well as the royal examination systems of long ago in China and Viet Nam.

Groups of no more than eight people will gather in front of the main gate of Van Mieu on Quoc Tu Giam Street. To join the tour, contact Keiko Inoguchi at herijapan@yahoo.co.jp.

Mekong Basin aims to ramp up tourism

Tourism growth should be viewed as a “win-win game” for the entire lower Mekong Sub-region, speakers at an international tourism summit in Ho CM City said on September 11.

Top officials from five ASEAN cities - HCM City , Bangkok , Vientiane , Phnom Penh and Yangon - gathered at the second Lower Mekong Tourism Cities Mayors Summit 2013, which was part of the ninth International Travel Expo HCM City 2013.

The summit assessed the implementation of the joint statement signed during the first summit last year.

In addition, participants looked at ways to improve tourism cooperation among cities in the lower Mekong sub-region.

Addressing the summit, Le Hoang Quan, chairman of the HCM City People’s Committee, said the event intended to promote a sustainable tourism development strategy for the region.

It gave a chance for participating cities to exchange experiences on how to improve tourism linkages and training programmes for human resources.

Tourism promotions that uphold cultural values of each city or country were also discussed.

The summit this year saw the participation of a new member – Bangkok . Thailand has extensive experience in tourism development and has a leading position in attracting foreign tourists.

Sukhumbhand Raribatra, governor of Bangkok, called for regional cooperation in tourism via practical strategies, saying each of the participating cities should see tourism growth of the region as a “win –win” game from which each city could benefit.

An official from Myanmar , U Kyaw Soe, hoped that after the summit more people would visit Myanmar to learn about the significant changes that have occurred in his country in recent years.

Other officials from Laos and Cambodia presented reports about their cities’ tourism situations and expressed their determination to cooperate with other cities and countries.

All the mayors from the five cities agree with the general review and results achieved from the first mayoral conference held last year in HCM City.

They also agreed to organise a Tourism Youth Ambassador programme in the Lower Mekong sub-region to improve exchanges and develop a regional youth tourism market.

The leader also said guidance should be provided to the cities’ tourism bodies to establish better communication channels to coordinate, research and develop a system of inter-regional tourism products based on advantages and resource of each city.

According to Quan, after the summit, a website about tourism in the five cities will be set up to attract international visitors.

The third summit will be held next year in Bangkok-

ACMECS countries aim for double-digit rise in foreign tourists

Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand have agreed to work together for a double-digit increase in the number of foreign tourists by 2015 under the theme “Five Countries – One Destination”.

The goal is part of a joint statement issued at the first meeting of tourism ministers of the five countries in the Ayeyawadi – Chao Phraya – Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS) in Ho Chi Minh City on September 11.

The ACMECS group aims to serve 50 million international visitors in 2015, including 10 million intra-regional tourists.

The ministers also agreed to build a new tourism corridor along Bagan, Chiang Mai, Luang Prabang, Vientiane, Siem Reap, Da Nang, and Hue in line with an agreement reached at the 5th ACMECS Summit in Laos in March this year.

The meeting went through tourism cooperation under the Vientiane Declaration and the ACMECS action programme adopted at the 5th ACMECS Summit.

In 2012, ACMECS countries welcomed over 37 million international arrivals, a year-on-year increase of 18 percent, 6 million of which from within the region.

The countries have actively promoted their tourism by joining international tourism fairs and building an ACMECS tourism website. Thailand and Cambodia have piloted a common visa scheme to facilitate travelling between the countries. Member countries have also assisted each other in human resource training and sharing of experience.

The second meeting of ACMECS tourism ministers is slated for 2015 in Myanmar.

Quang Ninh to have 7.5 billion USD hotel project

Leading officials of the US ISC Corporation – a group of world-class investors – and its partner of Tuan Chau Group (TCG) on September 11 made a fact-finding tour to Van Don island in the northern Quang Ninh province, looking to launch a 7.5 billion USD entertainment and hotel complex project in Van Don and Tuan Chau islands.

According to TCG Chairman Dao Hong Tuyen, the project has been credit guaranteed by three world top banks, including Citi Bank with 7 billion USD.

Quang Ninh authorities, ISC Corporation and the partners have also established a working group, teaming up experts of both sides to conduct studies and surveys, and design cooperation mechanisms and a roadmap to implement the project.-